0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

21	MESSAGE TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MOTHER
  	                        CHURCH, BOSTON, 1896 

  	    Beloved Brethren, Children, and Grandchildren: — 
24	Apart from the common walks of mankind, revolving
  	oft the hitherto untouched problems of being, and
  	oftener, perhaps, the controversies which baffle it,
27	Mother, thought-tired, turns to-day to you; turns to
  	her dear church, to tell the towers thereof the remarkable
  	achievements that have been ours within the past few
30	years: the rapid transit from halls to churches, from un-

  Miscellaneous Writings --- Message to The Mother Church, 1896  
  page 126

 1	settled questions to permanence, from danger to escape,
  	from fragmentary discourses to one eternal sermon; yea,
 3	from darkness to daylight, in physics and metaphysics. 
  	    Truly, I half wish for society again; for once, at least,
  	to hear the soft music of our Sabbath chimes saluting the
 6	ear in tones that leap for joy, with love for God and
  	man. 
  	    Who hath not learned that when alone he has his
 9	own thoughts to guard, and when struggling with man-
  	kind his temper, and in society his tongue? We also
  	have gained higher heights; have learned that trials lift
12	us to that dignity of Soul which sustains us, and finally
  	conquers them; and that the ordeal refines while it
  	chastens. 
15	    Perhaps our church is not yet quite sensible of what
  	we owe to the strength, meekness, honesty, and obedi-
  	ence of the Christian ...Science Board of Directors; to
18	the able editors of The Christian Science Journal, and
  	to our efficient Publishing Society. 
  	    No reproof is so potent as the silent lesson of a good
21	example. Works, more than words, should characterize
  	Christian Scientists. Most people condemn evil-doing,
  	evil-speaking; yet nothing circulates so rapidly:  even gold
24	is less current. Christian Scientists have a strong race to
  	run, and foes in ambush; but bear in mind that, in the
  	long race, honesty always defeats dishonesty. 
27	    God hath indeed smiled on my church, — this
  	daughter of Zion:  she sitteth in high places; and to de-
  	ride her is to incur the penalty of which the Hebrew
30	bard spake after this manner: "He that sitteth in the
  	heavens shall laugh:  the Lord shall have them in
  	derision." 

  Miscellaneous Writings --- Message to The Mother Church, 1896  
  page 127

 1	    Hitherto, I have observed that in proportion as this
  	church has smiled on His "little ones," He has blessed
 3	her. Throughout my entire connection with The Mother
  	Church, I have seen, that in the ratio of her love for
  	others, hath His love been bestowed upon her; watering
 6	her waste places, and enlarging her borders. 
  	    One thing I have greatly desired, and again earnestly
  	request, namely, that Christian Scientists, here and
 9	elsewhere, pray daily for themselves; not verbally, nor
  	on bended knee, but mentally, meekly, and importu-
  	nately. When a hungry heart petitions the divine Father-
12	Mother God for bread, it is not given a stone, — but
  	more grace, obedience, and love. If this heart, humble
  	and trustful, faithfully asks divine Love to feed it with the
15	bread of heaven, health, holiness, it will be conformed to
  	a fitness to receive the answer to its desire; then will flow
  	into it the "river of His pleasure," the tributary of divine
18	Love, and great growth in Christian Science will follow, — 
  	even that joy which finds one's own in another's good. 
  	    To love, and to be loved, one must do good to others. 
21	The inevitable condition whereby to become blessed, is to
  	bless others:  but here, you must so know yourself, under
  	God's direction, that you will do His will even though
24	your pearls be downtrodden. Ofttimes the rod is His
  	means of grace; then it must be ours, — we cannot avoid
  	wielding it if we reflect Him. 
27	    Wise sayings and garrulous talk may fall to the ground,
  	rather than on the ear or heart of the hearer; but a tender
  	sentiment felt, or a kind word spoken, at the right moment,
30	is never wasted. Mortal mind presents phases of charac-
  	ter which need close attention and examination. The
  	human heart, like a feather bed, needs often to be stirred,

  Miscellaneous Writings --- Message to The Mother Church, 1896  
  page 128

 1	sometimes roughly, and given a variety of turns, else it
  	grows hard and uncomfortable whereon to repose. 
 3	    The lessons of this so-called life in matter are too vast
  	and varied to learn or to teach briefly; and especially
  	within the limits of a letter. Therefore I close here,
 6	with the apostle's injunction: "Finally, brethren, what-
  	soever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
  	whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
 9	whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
  	good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
  	praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye
12	have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in
  	me, do:  and the God of peace shall be with you." 
  	                                     With love, Mother,
   15  	                                             MARY BAKER G. EDDY
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